Vertical engine

Abstract

Recesses are provided in portions of a head cover and a crankcase which are opposed to outer peripheries of a timing chain and a balancer-driving chain driven by a crankshaft of a vertical engine, whereby vertical walls and horizontal walls are formed to oppose to outer peripheral surfaces and lower surfaces of the timing chain and the balancer-driving chain. An oil scattered from the timing chain and the balancer-driving chain by a centrifugal force is caught on the vertical walls, and the oil flowing down along the vertical walls by gravitation is retained on the underlying horizontal walls, whereby the oil can be brought into contact with the chains without waste to effectively lubricate the chains.

1. A vertical engine comprising a first shaft disposed in a generally vertical direction, a second shaft disposed in a generally vertical direction and driven by the first shaft, and a chain wound around sprockets mounted on the first and second shafts and circulated in a generally horizontal plane,
 wherein the vertical engine further includes an oil guide means which is disposed along at least a portion of a circulation locus of the chain and which includes a generally horizontal wall opposed to a lower surface of the chain, and 
 wherein the first and second shafts are provided at their upper ends with the sprockets. 
 
   
   
     2. A vertical engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the oil guide means is mounted in a region where the chain is meshed with the sprockets, and the oil guide means includes a vertical wall which rises generally vertically from the horizontal wall and which is opposed to an outer peripheral surface of the chain. 
   
   
     3. A vertical engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the oil guide means is disposed at a location along the chain meshed with the sprocket on the second shaft and above a bearing of the second shaft. 
   
   
     4. A vertical engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the oil guide means is formed integrally with a member defining a chain chamber in which the chain is accommodated. 
   
   
     5. A vertical engine according to  claim 4 , wherein the oil guide means is formed by depressing a portion of the member defining the chain chamber in which the chain is accommodated. 
   
   
     6. A vertical engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the oil guide means is mounted in a member supporting the first shaft or the second shaft. 
   
   
     7. A vertical engine comprising a first shaft disposed in a generally vertical direction, a second shaft disposed in a generally vertical direction and driven by the first shaft, and a chain wound around sprockets mounted on upper ends of the first and second shafts and circulated in a generally horizontal plane,
 wherein the vertical engine further includes an oil guide means which is disposed along a region where the chain is meshed with the sprockets, and which includes a generally vertical wall opposed to an outer peripheral surface of the chain. 
 
   
   
     8. A vertical engine according to any of  claims 1 – 3  and  4 – 7 , further including an oil jet for injecting the oil to the chain, the oil jet being mounted in the chain chamber in which the chain is accommodated. 
   
   
     9. A vertical engine according to any of  claims 1 – 3  and  4 – 7 , wherein the chain is a silent chain. 
   
   
     10. A vertical engine comprising a first shaft disposed in a generally vertical direction, a second shaft disposed in a generally vertical direction and driven by the first shaft, and a chain wound around sprockets mounted on the first and second shafts and circulated in a generally horizontal plane,
 wherein the vertical engine further includes a rib which is disposed generally along a travel locus of the chain to guide an oil to the chain, and 
 wherein the rib is extended in a direction perpendicular to and toward the travel locus of the chain, from a member defining a chamber for accommodating the chain. 
 
   
   
     11. A vertical engine according to  claim 10 , wherein the rib is formed integrally on a lower surface of a cover member as said member covers an upper portion of the chain from above. 
   
   
     12. A vertical engine according to  claim 10 , further including a chain tensioner or a chain guide disposed along the travel locus of the chain, wherein the rib is provided above the chain tensioner or the chain guide. 
   
   
     13. A vertical engine according to  claim 10 , wherein the rib is provided sideways of the sprocket mounted on the first shaft or the second shaft. 
   
   
     14. A vertical engine according to  claim 10 , wherein the chain is wound around the sprockets mounted at upper ends of the first shaft and the second shaft. 
   
   
     15. A vertical engine according to  claim 10 , wherein the first shaft is a crankshaft, and the second shaft is a camshaft. 
   
   
     16. A vertical engine according to  claim 10 , wherein the first shaft is a crankshaft, and the second shaft is a balancer-driving shaft. 
   
   
     17. A vertical engine according to any of  claims 10  to  16 , further including an oil jet for injecting the oil to the chain, the oil jet being mounted in said chamber in which the chain is accommodated. 
   
   
     18. A vertical engine according to any of  claims 10  to  16 , wherein the chain is a silent chain.